they were to
finish their toilets in the green-room, while the actor themselves ready
for the stage in the small dressing-closets set aside for that purpose.
All the gentlemen in Poitiers, young and old, were wild to penetrate
into this temple, or rather sacristy, of Thalia, where the priestesses
of that widely worshipped muse adorned themselves to celebrate her
mysterious rites, and a great number of them had succeeded in gaining
admittance. They crowded round the actresses, offering advice as to the
placing of a flower or a jewel, handing the powder-box or the rouge-pot,
presenting the little hand-mirror, taking upon themselves all such small
offices with the greatest "empressement," and vying with each other in
their gallant attendance upon the fair objects of their admiration; the
younger and more timid among them holding a little aloof and sitting on
the large chests scattered about, swinging their feet and twisting their
mustaches, while they watched the proceedings of their bolder companions
with envious eyes. Each actress had her own circle of admiring cavaliers
about her, paying her high-flown compliments in the exaggerated language
of the day, and doing their best to make themselves agreeable in every
way they could think of. Zerbine laughed at them all, and made fun of
them unmercifully, turning everything they said into ridicule; yet so
coquettishly that they thought her bewitching, in spite of her sharp
tongue, which was like a two-edged sword. Serafina, whose vanity was
overweening, delighted in the fulsome homage paid to her charms, and
smiled encouragingly upon her throng of admirers, but Isabelle, who
was intensely annoyed at the whole thing, did not pay the slightest
attention to them, nor even once raise her eyes to look at them; being
apparently absorbed in the duties of her toilet, which she accomplished
as quietly and modestly as possible--having left only the finishing
touches to be given in that public place.

The Duke of Vallombreuse was careful, of course, not to miss this
excellent opportunity, of which he had been informed by Maitre Bilot, to
see Isabelle again, and entering the green-room in good season, followed
by his friend Vidalinc, marched straight up to her toilet-table. He
was enchanted to find that, on this close inspection, she was even more
beautiful than he had supposed, and in his enthusiastic delight at
this discovery could scarcely refrain from seizing her in his arms and
decl